The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

Now though it be most undoubtedly true, that the Sovereignty of his power, and dominion over his Creatures (of which he hath no need, and to whom he so freely gave being) is so absolute and unlimited, that, if we consider that only, we must acknowledge he might create a Man or an Angel, and annihilate him presently: yea, that he might, if he so pleased, raise up many Thousand Worlds of intelligent and innocent Creatures into being in one moment, and throw them into nothing again the very next moment.

Now though it be most undoubtedly true, that the Soveraignty of his power, and dominion over his Creatures (of which he hath no need, and to whom he so freely gave beeing) is so absolute and unlimited, that, if we consider that only, we must acknowledg he might create a Man or an Angel, and annihilate him presently: yea, that he might, if he so pleased, raise up many Thousand Worlds of intelligent and innocent Creatures into being in one moment, and throw them into nothing again the very next moment.

Yet how unwarrantably should we maim the notion of God, if we should conceive of him only, according to one Attribute, secluding the consideration of the rest! How misshapen an Idea should we bear of him in our ⟨p. 54⟩minds! And how would it deform the face of Providence, and spoil the Decorum of his Administrations, if they should be the effects of one single Attribute only, the other having no influence on the affairs of the world! If nothing but Mercy should appear in his dispensations towards sinful man, so that every man might do what were good in his own eyes, without cause of fear to be called to account; If the most dissolute and profane were equally assured of his favour, with those who are most holy, and strictly regular in all their conversation; what would be thought of God and Religion? Or how should we savour the notion of an impure Deity taking pleasure to indulge the wickedness of men? And if Justice alone have the whole management of Affairs, and every act of sin be followed with an act of sudden vengeance, and the whole world become a flaming. Theatre, and all men held in an